Energy medicine ( English energy medicine ), energy therapy ( English energy therapy ), energy healing ( English energy healing ) - a type of unconventional ( alternative, non-traditional ) medicine, which involves exposure to humans using known or unknown modern science (including the number of esoteric ) types of energy for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various diseases.
In the United States, the (NCCAM), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), divides all types of energy used in unconventional medicine into detectable (“valid”, English veritable ) and undetectable ("imaginary", English putative ) [1] . “Actual” ones include, for example, chemical energy (used in aromatherapy ) or constant magnetic field energy (used in magnetotherapy ). To the "imaginary" - " bioenergy ", qi , prana , orgone energy , etc.
The term "energy medicine" is used only in relation to theories and practices adopted in alternative medicine and not having scientific confirmation of their validity and effectiveness. The term does not apply to areas of conventional medicine that use proven and effective methods of diagnosis and treatment using well-known types of energy.
Content
History
The name "energy medicine" was introduced in the 1980s after the founding of the nonprofit International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine. The theories and views of this society were set forth in two books under the general title “Energy Medicine”. One of the books is intended for practitioners [2] , the other examines existing evidence and research [3] .
The use of various types of energy in scientific medicine
Scientific methods of treatment use the energy of mechanical vibrations (such as sound, ultrasound ) and electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, magnetism, monochromatic radiation (for example, laser). These methods are used to treat patients with radiation with physically measured frequencies and wavelengths. In Russian medical terminology, these methods are classified as physiotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic .
Many electrical, electromagnetic therapy systems are known, tested and determined to be valid. The use of lasers , magnetic pulsation systems, and nuclear magnetic resonance are also referred to as therapeutic methods of treatment. However, some methods remain controversial [1] (for example, magnetic therapy - treatment using a constant magnetic field, is often attributed to pseudo - scientific methods of therapy).
Alternative Energy Medicine
The use of the supposed energy [4] (scientifically unproven type), for example, orgone energy , is based on the hypothesis that the disease, in pseudoscientific [5] terminology, is caused not by disturbances in the physical structure of the body, but in the “energy”, for example, in the aura or system of subtle bodies , and disturbances or "energy balance" can be restored [6] [7] . The nature of these energies postulated by pseudoscience is said to be “subtle” and cannot be directly measured by physical devices. That is, these energies are outside the known material frequency range . There are unscientific studies that allegedly confirm the possibility of influencing subtle energies in ways that are not detectable by technical means, but showing their therapeutic effect. Due to the lack of the possibility of physical measurement of such energies, such treatment methods are more than controversial [7] . Some practitioners claim that they "can work with this subtle energy, can see it with their own eyes and use it for healing" [7] [8] .
The practice of supposed energy medicine has an ancient history of at least 5,000 years. A mummified body (approximately 3000 BC) was found to have tattoos on acupuncture points , which are indicated in traditional Chinese medicine . Places of tattoos corresponded to the method of treatment of lumbar spine accepted in modern acupuncture. Such a diagnosis was confirmed by analysis of the body of the mummy using x-ray [1] .
Energy Medicine Options
Energy medicine is a broad term that combines many methods, such as acupuncture , acupressure (massage of biologically active points), laser, light, magnetic therapy, V. Reich's orgone energy therapy, using the energy of the pyramids [9] , vibration medicine, [10] ] multidimensional medicine, [11] hand laying, qi therapy, polarity therapy , Reiki , karma diagnostics, cosmoenergy , spiritual healing, prayer , meditation , Tantra , Yantras .
The proposed energy medicine can include such methods as the use of animals as donors of “energy”, and the possibility of treating animals, plants and the restoration of electrical appliances ( B. Groening ) with the help of “energy” of this kind. [12] Typically, such opinions are based on the testimonies of mediums depicting animal chakras .
Criticism
Since the treatment of diseases with the help of fields not detectable by modern science is postulated in energy medicine, it is not falsifiable and, therefore, does not have a scientific status. Only such a theory has scientific status, the result of which can be confirmed or disproved by conducting an experiment.
According to the WHO strategy regarding alternative medicine, this method of treatment does not apply to medical [13] . In accordance with the characteristics (requirements) approved by the International Standard ISCO-88 , this type of practice refers to healing (column 324 “Traditional medicine healers and healers treating with suggestion and prayers” ISCO-88, ILO [14] .
Currently, there is no reliable evidence of the effectiveness of energy medicine, scientists explain cases of healing with the placebo effect. [15]
See also
- Yin and yang
- Feng Shui
- Kundalini
- Prana
- Reiki
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 Energy medicine: overview . // NCCAM (2004, upd. 2007). Archived on November 21, 2012. Archive as pdf
- ↑ Eden D. Energy Medicine, 1998.
- ↑ James L. Oschman A review of Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis, an imprint of Harcourt Publishers Limited, 2000.274 pp. ISBN 0-443-06261-7
- ↑ Energy (Online Encyclopedia)
- ↑ “Today in Russia there is another surge in mass interest in“ paranormal ”phenomena. Again in the course of the “biofield”, which psychics are supposedly able to see as “aura” of various colors (something like a halo). A whole pseudo-scientific direction has evolved, called “bioenergy” or “bioenergyinformatics”, in which science-like fables about torsion fields, parapsychology, astrology and elements of various religious cults fancifully merge. ” - Aleksandrov Ye. B. Problems of the expansion of pseudoscience
- ↑ Feinstein D., Eden D. (2007). Six Pillars of Energy Medicine.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Stenger VJ Bioenergetic Fields (link not available) . // The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring / Summer 1999 / colorado.edu. Date of treatment December 8, 2011. Archived January 12, 2012.
- ↑ Feinstein D. (2007). Energy Psychology: Theory, Methods, Evidence
- ↑ Shatilov K. K. “The healing pyramids. From Atlantis to the present day. Diagnostics of karma. ”St. Petersburg. 2008 Publishing House ISBN 978-5-9684-0918-8
- ↑ Gerber, Richard, MD Vibration Medicine (Santa Fe, New Mexico: Bear & Company, 1988). ISBN 1-879181-58-4 (BEAR & Co)
- ↑ L. Puchko, “Multidimensional medicine. The system of self-diagnosis and self-healing of man ”M .: ANS, 2002. ISBN 5-8303-0010-9
- ↑ How HTA Works | Healing Touch for Animals® (unavailable link from 05/16/2013 [2263 days] - history )
- ↑ WHO Strategy for Traditional Medicine 2002-2005 (pdf) (unavailable link) . Date of treatment September 8, 2009. Archived August 30, 2009.
- ↑ For example, see extract from protocol No. 014 of 08/25/2005 of the Commission on Traditional Medicine under the Moscow Government on the classification of the Reiki method as traditional medicine
- ↑ Jonathan Smith. Pseudoscience and the Paranormal: A Critical Look = Jonathan C. Smith. Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal: A Critical Thinker's Toolkit, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010 / Translated by Natalya Lisova. - M .: Alpina non-fiction, 2011 .-- 566 p. - ISBN 978-5-91671-080-9 .